If you ever happen to find yourself taking a walk - as I was fortunate enough to do so recently - through a charming fishing village in the Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera called Villefranche-sur-Mer, you will come across such windows and other pleasing sights.

From a web page about the village:

"Villefranche-sur-Mer is one of the most charming — if not the most charming — authentic French and Niçoise fishing village on the French Riviera, in the heart of the Cote d’Azur. With Monaco on one side and Nice on the other, it is hard to believe that it can retain its charm and authenticity of a little village where people still know each other.

Our neighbors (a couple in their late 80s) live in an apartment that has been in their family since 1830. Their children and grandchildren all live and work in the village. Another neighbor is one of the local fishermen and sell their catch in the local market. Another set of neighbors, just a few doors away, of Italian origin (as are many Villefranchois families), have been in Villefranche since 1900 and are the proprietors of our world-renowned soap boutique and have two twin boys at the local school. I love to watch and hear the neighbors hang out their windows and greet each other, have a little chat or watch the day pass by. There is family after family like this in Villefranche — all with lovely character and charm. It is a delightful way of life unique to Old Town living."